Patents by Inventor Miodrag Scepanovic

Miodrag Scepanovic has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240094607
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the camera system comprises: an optical assembly to create an optical image from the optical wavefront; a deformable phase plate (DPP) to receive the optical image from the optical assembly and to adjust the optical image in accordance with a control signal, the DPP including a deformable surface suspended over a cavity filled with optical fluid, and electrical actuation elements configured to change a shape of the deformable surface based on the control signal, the electrical actuation elements arranged in a pattern in the cavity and, when activated, provide an electrostatic force on the deformable surface; an image sensor to convert the adjusted optical image into electrical signals; an image signal processor to generate a digital image from the electrical signals; and an estimator to estimate an aberration or tilt correction of the digital image and to generate the control signal based on the estimated aberration or tilt correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Milan Maksimovic, Arnaud Pouydebasque, Marjorie Trzmiel, Miodrag Scepanovic, Nachiappan Chidambaram, Sebastien Bolis
  • Patent number: 11910102
    Abstract: An optical image system may include a monocentric lens optically coupled to a fiber bundle and an image sensor. The fiber bundle may provide a curved face towards the monocentric lens and a flat face towards an image sensor. The fiber bundle may transfer light passing through the monocentric lens to the image sensor. The optical image system may include an optical correction structure having a diffractive optical element (DOE), which may be located between the monocentric lens and the fiber bundle. The optical correction structure may increase light in-coupling between the monocentric lens and fiber bundle by reducing or eliminating light reflection at the curved face of the fiber bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Maksimovic, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 11754821
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Publication number: 20230119451
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 11588961
    Abstract: A lighting module which provides adjustably controllable illumination of a camera field of view of a camera module includes an adjustable collimator which can be adjustably positioned such that the emitted light beam is adjustably directed to illuminate various regions of various camera fields of view. The collimator can be adjusted via an actuator which adjustably positions the collimator relative to static components of the lighting module, including the light emitter. The light beam can be directed to illuminate a selected limited region of a camera field of view, based on identification of a subject within the limited region. The light beam can be adjustably directed based on user interactions with a user interface, including adjusting the light beam according to user-commanded beam angle, intensity, and direction. The light beam can be adjustably directed to illuminate a region according to different fields of view of different camera modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier, Andreas G. Weber, Simon S. Lee
  • Patent number: 11536936
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Publication number: 20210409582
    Abstract: A lighting module which provides adjustably controllable illumination of a camera field of view of a camera module includes an adjustable collimator which can be adjustably positioned such that the emitted light beam is adjustably directed to illuminate various regions of various camera fields of view. The collimator can be adjusted via an actuator which adjustably positions the collimator relative to static components of the lighting module, including the light emitter. The light beam can be directed to illuminate a selected limited region of a camera field of view, based on identification of a subject within the limited region. The light beam can be adjustably directed based on user interactions with a user interface, including adjusting the light beam according to user-commanded beam angle, intensity, and direction. The light beam can be adjustably directed to illuminate a region according to different fields of view of different camera modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier, Andreas G. Weber, Simon S. Lee
  • Publication number: 20210349295
    Abstract: A folded optical system that comprises two prisms with refractive power and in which at least one surface of at least one of the prisms is not rotationally symmetric. The materials and surfaces of the prisms in the folded optical system may be selected to provide a low F-number (e.g., <=2.4), full field of view (FOV) of 30 degrees or less. The folded optical system may be implemented in a small package size while still capturing sharp, high-resolution images, making embodiments of a camera including the folded optical system suitable for use in small and/or mobile multipurpose devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20210333529
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 11122193
    Abstract: A lighting module which provides adjustably controllable illumination of a camera field of view of a camera module includes an adjustable collimator which can be adjustably positioned such that the emitted light beam is adjustably directed to illuminate various regions of various camera fields of view. The collimator can be adjusted via an actuator which adjustably positions the collimator relative to static components of the lighting module, including the light emitter. The light beam can be directed to illuminate a selected limited region of a camera field of view, based on identification of a subject within the limited region. The light beam can be adjustably directed based on user interactions with a user interface, including adjusting the light beam according to user-commanded beam angle, intensity, and direction. The light beam can be adjustably directed to illuminate a region according to different fields of view of different camera modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier, Andreas G. Weber, Simon S. Lee
  • Patent number: 11061213
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 10855895
    Abstract: A light source module includes an array of illumination elements and a light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and in response adjust the amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. A light source module may include a segmented light diffusing material where each segment is associated with an illumination element. And individual segments may have light diffusing properties that are different than other segments of the light diffusing material. Some illumination elements may emit light of a different color spectrum than other illumination elements, and a light diffusing material may scatter the different colored light to illuminate a scene with combinations of light of different colors. A light source module may be embedded in a mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Florian R. Fournier, Angelo M. Alaimo, Simon S. Lee, Miodrag Scepanovic, Andreas G. Weber
  • Patent number: 10475361
    Abstract: A device which includes a display can provide adjustable light output, based in part on the color of the display screen output, to control the light output of the display screen. An illumination processor can adjustably control light output based on the colors of portions of the display screen. The light output can be adjusted to maintain the light output of the display screen across a range of colors of display screen light output. Controlling the light output of the display screen results in controlling the illuminance of a subject. The device can include a camera which captures an image of the subject and displays the image on a portion of the display screen, where the light output of a portion of the display screen can illuminate the subject such that the captured image has at least a certain level of image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier
  • Publication number: 20190243112
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 10334184
    Abstract: An electronic device may have an optical system that includes one or more light-based components. The light-based components may include light-emitting components such as light-emitting diodes or lasers and may include light-detecting components such as photodiodes or digital image sensors. The optical system may include a light diffuser. The light diffuser may diffuse light that is being detected by a light-detecting component or may diffuse light that is being emitted by a light-emitting component. Light diffusers in optical systems may be formed from patterned light diffuser layers on transparent substrates. Layers of sealant, thin glass layers, antireflection coatings, and other layers may be incorporated into the light diffusers. The light diffuser layers may operate at visible wavelengths and infrared wavelengths. An infrared light diffuser layer may be formed from a patterned silicon layer such as a patterned layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ligang Wang, Miodrag Scepanovic, Neil MacKinnon, Zhenbin Ge
  • Patent number: 10145730
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including an apparatus for testing a light beam emitted by a light source. The apparatus includes a transparent substrate, a first face of the substrate being shaped to define a plurality of optical deflectors. At least one optical detector is positioned to face a second face of the substrate that is not opposite the first face. Each one of the deflectors is configured to deflect a portion of the light beam toward the detector, when the light beam is passed through the first face of the substrate. Other applications are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Florian R. Fournier, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Publication number: 20180288295
    Abstract: A lighting module which provides adjustably controllable illumination of a camera field of view of a camera module includes an adjustable collimator which can be adjustably positioned such that the emitted light beam is adjustably directed to illuminate various regions of various camera fields of view. The collimator can be adjusted via an actuator which adjustably positions the collimator relative to static components of the lighting module, including the light emitter. The light beam can be directed to illuminate a selected limited region of a camera field of view, based on identification of a subject within the limited region. The light beam can be adjustably directed based on user interactions with a user interface, including adjusting the light beam according to user-commanded beam angle, intensity, and direction. The light beam can be adjustably directed to illuminate a region according to different fields of view of different camera modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Miodrag Scepanovic, Angelo M. Alaimo, Florian R. Fournier, Andreas G. Weber, Simon S. Lee
  • Patent number: 10025154
    Abstract: An electrically activated lens filter with an electro-optic portion having a radially and circumferentially symmetric electric field gradient is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the lens filter include an electro-optic portion having one or more conductive plugs arranged around a center region such that an electric field within the electro-optic portion varies from a maximum at an outer rim to a minimum outside of the center region. The lens filter may include a plurality of front electrodes and rear electrodes accessible in an axial direction for electrically activating front and rear transparent conductive layers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Gleason, Xingchao C. Yuan, Ryan J. Dunn, Linsen Bie, Xi Guo, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 10002215
    Abstract: Arrayed imaging systems include an array of detectors formed with a common base and a first array of layered optical elements, each one of the layered optical elements being optically connected with a detector in the array of detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Dowski, Paulo E. X. Silveira, George C. Barnes, IV, Vladislav V. Chumachenko, Dennis W. Dobbs, Regis S. Fan, Gregory E. Johnson, Miodrag Scepanovic, Satoru Tachihara, Christopher J. Linnen, Inga Tamayo, Donald Combs, Howard E. Rhodes, James He, John J. Mader, Goran M. Rauker, Kenneth Kubala, Mark Meloni, Brian Schwartz, Robert Cormack, Michael Hepp, Kenneth Ashley Macon, Gary L. Duerksen
  • Publication number: 20180167539
    Abstract: A light source module includes an array of illumination elements and a light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and in response adjust the amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. A light source module may include a segmented light diffusing material where each segment is associated with an illumination element. And individual segments may have light diffusing properties that are different than other segments of the light diffusing material. Some illumination elements may emit light of a different color spectrum than other illumination elements, and a light diffusing material may scatter the different colored light to illuminate a scene with combinations of light of different colors. A light source module may be embedded in a mobile computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Florian R. Fournier, Angelo M. Alaimo, Simon S. Lee, Miodrag Scepanovic, Andreas G. Weber